OPEC and the post-war evolution of the oil industry, part 3: Shale, new demand and OPEC+
The third part in the second chapter of our history of oil looks at the US shale revolution and ‘declaration of cooperation’ that created OPEC+
As 2016 progressed and oil prices remained stubbornly low, something had to happen. Production cuts were accompanied by one of the most important events in the history of the oil market: the signing of a formal ‘declaration of cooperation’ at the end of the year. The signatories were the members of OPEC plus ten other producers (Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan and Sudan). The inclusion of Russia—its production is today 64% of the ‘plus’ part of the alliance—was crucial and its active participation in supply management has given OPEC+ significant market control. The value of the declaration was shown by the expanded group’s response to th
Also in this section
17 February 2026
Eni’s chief operating officer for global natural resources, Guido Brusco, takes stock of the company’s key achievements over the past year, and what differentiates its strategy from those of its peers in the LNG sector and beyond
16 February 2026
As the third wave of global LNG arrives, Wood Mackenzie’s director for Europe gas and LNG, Tom Marzec-Manser, discusses with Petroleum Economist the outlook for Europe’s gas market in 2026
13 February 2026
Artificial intelligence is pushing electricity demand beyond the limits of existing grids, increasing the role of gas and LNG in energy system planning as a fast, flexible solution
13 February 2026
Panellists at LNG2026 say demand growth will hinge less on the level of global supply and more on the pace of downstream buildout, policy clarity and bankable market frameworks






